Here's To My Lady - The Ray Charles Singers

The Touch Of Your Lips

Here's To My Lady
The Ray Charles Singers
M-G-M Records
E3568
1957

From the back cover: The male contingent of the superlative Ray Charles Singers and a delightful bouquet of songs for that fair lady of yours! Here are twelve dream-dusted psalms in praise of pulchritude-a garland of love lays penned by some of the finest of modern minstrels and performed distinctly that moody Ray Charles way. Here, you'll find some of the best singing by the Charles Singers on record to date-a rapturous serenade that will help your lady care just a little bit more.

Here's To My Lady
Our title selection-a memorable number by Johnny Mercer and Rube Bloom-encompasses the whole idea of our album and sets the scene for our series of toasts to the fair (or unfair) sex-depending.

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
One of a series of unforgettable songs from the great Warner Brothers film musicals of the Thirties, this Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer creation first came to the fore in the 1938 celluloid favorite "Hard To Get", which starred Dick Powell and Olivia De Havilland.

The Very Thought Of You
One of two songs penned by Ray Noble included in this collection.

You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
Comments Ray Charles himself: "This is one of those wonderful old 'Thirties songs of a sort they just don't seem to write any more." This lilting serenade is the work of Al Dubin and Harry Warren and derives from the fabulous Warner Brothers musical of 1933: "Forty-Second Street". Starred were Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Bebe Daniels, Ginger Rogers, George Brent and Dick Powell.

The Touch Of Your Lips
At this point, a little feminine reaction is not inappropriate, so, for sultry sounds of satisfaction, the voice of Rose Marie Jun joins the male voices of the Ray Charles Singers. The evergreen song was penned by Ray Noble.

Too Marvelous For Words
Says Ray Charles: "This is to aid the lad who, by this time in our recorded serenade, finds himself speech- less." The song was penned by Johnny Mercer and Richard Whiting in 1937 for the Warner Brothers film "Ready, Willing And Able," which starred Ruby Keeler, Lee Dixon, Louise Fazaenda and Allan Jenkins.

My Darling, My Darling
Frank Loesser's tuneful essay from the musical "Where's Charley?" on "how to address a girl you'd like to know better and see more of." (Notes Ray Charles: "That last sentence ends with a preposition as any fool can see.")

If You Were The Only Girl In The World
The Charles comment in description here is brief – notes he: "This exemplifies the British approach." The song was written by Nat D. Ayer and Clifford Gray.

Stay As Sweet As You Are
A sturdy Mack Gordon and Harry Revel favorite which first graced the score for the 1934 Paramount picture "College Rhythm" in which were featured such stars of the silver screen as Jack Oakie, Lyda Roberti, Joe Penner, Helen Mack and Lanny Ross.

We Will Always Be Sweethearts
Notes Ray Charles: "The Viennese approach – graceful, courtly, the tune by Oscar Straus of 'The Chocolate Soldier' fame written for a Maurice Chevalier-Jeanette MacDonald picture." Vital statistics that might be added: the year was 1932, the film was called "One Hour With You," seen elsewhere in the cast were Roland Young and Charles Ruggles, and the picture was one of the early Hollywood entries to bear that "touch" of director Ernst Lubitsch.

You're My Girl
Ray says: "When you saw 'High Button Shoes,' you probably missed this lovely song in the panic of 'Papa Won't You Dance With Me."" Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn penned this ballad for the 1947 Broadway hit which featured Phil Silvers, Nanette Fabray and Joey Faye.

From Billboard - September 2, 1957: Top-notch vocal group provides pleasant listening on several standards and tunes from movies and shows. Set is a fine mood album for jocks and can appeal to those who prefer the conventional group harmonies.

Here's To My Lady
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
The Very Thought Of You
You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
The Touch Of Your Lips
Too Marvelous For Words
My Darling, My Darling
If You Were The Only Girl In The World
Stay As Sweet As You Are
We Will Always Be Sweethearts
You're My Girl
All Of You